Military Inspired Fashion: Part 2

Hi everyone! I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s post with the first part of military inspired fashion. Today I thought I would share a few more military items that are likely the items you think of when you hear the word “military.” When done correctly, these staple fall items can add the perfect balance of hard/soft to an outfit.
The first military look is the basic “boyfriend jacket.” These typically are a dark brown or army green and are meant to look like you basically stole it out of your boyfriend’s closet. They should have a looser fit (looser, not loser) and will usually have some kind of pocket detailing just below the shoulders.  The top jacket is available at Forever 21 for $25 and the bottom jacket is from Roxy for $35. The one on the left can be found in Zac Efron’s closet.. anyone want to sneak in and get it for me? If you want to full embrace the “I borrowed this from my boyfriend” look, pair with a very girly outfit (like shown in the top picture), it should look like it was added last minute. To have a more purposeful look, pair with a white tee and jeans like shown in the bottom picture.
This next look is one of my favorites because it’s an interesting spin on the classic leather jacket. A bomber jacket is a short jacket that is usually made of leather and zips in the front. What makes it different from other leather jackets is that it usually gathers in at the waist and cuffs (with elastic,belts, ties, etc.). It’s kind of similar to the “boyfriend jacket” because it also has a more masculine look (you’ll often see men wearing this jacket) and isn’t as form fitting. It’s called a bomber jacket because this is the type of jacket American bomber pilots wore during WWII. Victoria Justice shows how a girl can rock a bomber jacket too, hers is likely vintage so I found some options that are more affordable and animal friendly (faux leather). The first jacket has a really adorable snakeskin lining and is available here for $30. The second look is great for that “softer” more feminine look because instead of leather, this jacket is made of a soft fleece knit and is only $20 at Forever 21. The third jacket is sold by Charlotte Russe for $40 and shows a perfect example of how to pair a bomber jacket with a flowery skirt for a perfect mix of hard/soft. The fourth look is sold here for $30 and is a black pleather jacket with the same rattlesnake lining shown in pic one. Last is a simple but cute gray jacket with pink leopard print lining, sold here for $27.
This next look is perfect for those of you who have a colder fall or want a coat that can easily transfer from fall to winter. These parkas, or anoraks, were used in the 1950’s for flight crews stationed in very cold regions. They were called “snorkel parkas” because you can zip them all the way up which leaves you just a little tunnel of vision, perfect for those colder months and windy days! Above, Jennifer Aniston and Kate Beckinsale wear their anoraks out and about, don’t they look so cozy? If you want a blue parka like Jennifer Aniston’s,H&M has a great option for $60. It is available in camel, gray, khaki, and black. The second parka is sold by Modcloth for $123; it has a longer length and has a drawstring around the waist to give you more of a figure. Option three is very similar to Kate Beckinsale’s coat and is sold by American Eagle for $130. It is also a longer length, features a full zip and button front, and is sold in olive, white, and black. The last parka is a soft shell and is available in black or brown from Aeropostale for $50. These parkas look great over a casual outfit such a tee paired with jeans or leggings and some boots.
This fall the military trend is also very common in accessories. To avoid looking like you’re suiting up for combat, try to wear no more than three accessories together and only wear one or two  of these accessories if a main article of clothing is military inspired too. A good pair of brown suede or leather gloves can really tie an outfit together and I love how these gloves sold by Amazon for $30 have the leather triangle detailing. The second item is a pair of gold pyramid stud earrings that resemble what you might find alongside patches on a commander’s jacket. They are sold by Forever 21 for just $1.50, making these earrings a steal! Probably the key accessory you’ll need to perfect the military inspired look is a good pair of aviator sunglasses, think Top Gun! These sunglasses are only $1.90 on Amazon.. seriously!?! They are practically giving them away. The fourth item is a style of boots that have become very popular in Europe and are slowly making their way over to the U.S. If you want to be ahead of the curve, you can pick up these velvet cuties on Amazon for $18-45 (depending on the color). I’m all about iPhone cases right now and at Society6 for $35 you can get this cute army girl case that has sizes for iPhone 3 to the new iPhone 5.  The sixth item is a cute gold chain necklace that will help break up the darkness of all the browns and olives, it is sold for $11 at Forever21. The seventh item is a key fall item regardless if you like the military style or not, riding boots add an effortless cool to any outfit plus these puppies are only $80 on Modcloth. The last item is for those of you who are fully embracing this trend. Check out Ebay, ask friends/family, and check out thrift stores for authentic vintage military items. These vintage backpacks are the real deal and are sold on Ebay for $45. These are the perfect unisex accessory as well as a real conversation starter.

What do you think? Do you like the classier style from yesterday with double breasted coats paired with brass buttons or are you digging the rugged authentic “All American” military style?